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Will DeSantis' crackdown on charter school "bad actors" include private schools?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran "are working on legislation to address bad actors in the (school) choice movement," the Department of Education told TCPalm in an email Tuesday.

That statement capped off DOE's notification to TCPalm that it would conduct a site visit, which it did Wednesday, to review records at a private nonprofit school in Port St. Lucie partially funded by state scholarship money for disabled and low-income students.

The school is Barnabas Christian Academy, which recently changed its name from The Nation Christian Academy after viral YouTube audio exposed CEO Mike Woodbury berating and threatening a student from Haiti who lived with him and his wife.

TCPalm's ensuing and ongoing investigation into Woodbury this week uncovered his violent criminal record in Maine and video of him attacking a man in a hallway at South Portland Community College, as young basketball players watched.

During the site visit, DOE said its staff would "review background screenings, educator qualifications, and student files; confirm that public safety records are complete and up to date; and ensure that the required notices regarding abuse reporting are posted."

After the site visit, DOE said, "We have no indication that the school is currently in violation of any statute or rule. If the results of our site visit show otherwise, we will take appropriate action."

More oversight?

The only jurisdiction DOE has over private schools is the ability to pull state scholarship money if all eligibility requirements aren't met.

Barnabas/Nation Christian has received $3.4 million since 2014 in McKay and Florida Tax Credit scholarships, for disabled and low-income students, respectively. The DOE has not given TCPalm information on the school's Gardiner funds, for disabled students.

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The Nation Christian Academy campus is seen Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at 10330 U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie. The post-graduate football team had a winning first season, but various concerns have come to light after a profanity-laced tirade from school CEO Mike Woodbury went viral.(Photo: XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM)

DOE also requires background checks on private school owners and operators as well as annual reports and surveys.

On a visit to a Central Florida charter school Monday, DeSantis said he supports increased oversight over "bad actors" who open and operate charter schools.

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According to media reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis struggled to find a surgeon general/health department director after he took office January 2019. He finally appointed Scott Rivkees, who had been the subject of a sexual harassment investigation. DeSantis defended his choice amid the state's Hep A crisis, saying, “If we have a public health issue, I want somebody that is going to be able to protect the people of Florida.” Despite the state's heavily criticized response, especially in Martin County, DeSantis said, “Our response to this public health emergency has been so effective thanks to the strong, coordinated effort between our stakeholders and agencies at the state and federal levels.”(Photo: TCPALM FILE PHOTO)

The governor's staff did not respond to TCPalm's questions, so it's unclear whether his crackdown extends to private schools that receive state scholarship money, and whether he'll do it through an executive order or ask the Legislature to change state laws.

“For the charter operators, if they’re coming in and doing these fly-by-night charters, where they open up, make some money and leave, we’re going to create a ... list to where you’re blacklisted in Florida from being able to get these contracts in the future,” DeSantis said. “If you’re a bad actor, you’re going on the list, and we’re not going to let you move around to different communities, make money and then not serve the interests of students and parents.”

On the campaign trail, DeSantis was skeptical of increased state oversight over private and charter schools. But in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times in September, DeSantis said that didn't mean he wasn't open to considering changes.

"I'm not saying that I would not consider it," he said, "but the school districts don't necessarily have the same market signals that a private school or a public charter school has. If a public charter school's not doing a good job, people aren't going to go there."